Layout instrument



June 2, 1953 E. THOMPSON LAYOUT INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 17, 1952 l2 I4 l5Il METAL am Fig.2

Ellis Thompson o INVENToR.

9 A. dola...

Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED l STATES PATENT OFFICE LAYOUT INSTRUMENTEllis Thompson, West Palm Beach, Fla. Application January 17, 1952,serial No. 266,869 3 claims. (o1. ca -ss) This invention relates to newand useful improvements in layout instruments and the primary object ofthe present invention is to provide a device for measuring roof pitch,elbow mitre, various angles, drill sizes and sheetthicknesses, and whichmay also be employed for leveling purposes.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide anall-purpose carpenter instrument, whereby the various measurementsrequired in construction work may be readily and quickly determined. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide an instrument of theaforementioned character that is extremely Simple and practical inconstruction and which includes a base section and a pair of armspivotally secured to the ends of the base section together with meanscarried by one of the arms for engaging and locking the arms togetherand alongside of said base section.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide `a layoutinstrument that is simple and practical in construction, strong andreliable in use, efficient and durable in operation, inexpensive tomanufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which thesame is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side View of the present invention assembled for use;

Figure 2 is a view similar` to Figure l, but showing the arms folded inside -by side relation to each other and the base section;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on theplane of section line 4-4 of Figure l; and,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of one of the armsillustrating the clip means forming part thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose ofillustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the numeral I0 represents a rigid base section whose ends areSecured to swingable, rigid arms I2 and I4 by pivots I6 and I8. Arms I2and I4 are so positioned or mounted on their pivots that the same lie inplanes spaced parallel to each other to permit swinging movement of thearms to a position Where the same are disposed in side by siderelationship with respect t0 each other as well as the base section.

A resilient or flexible U-shaped guide clip 26 is integrally formed withthe outer free end of the arm I2. One leg portion 22 of the clip 20 isintegrally formed with the arm I2 and is iiush therewith. The other legportion 24 is formed with a notch 26 So shaped as to provide a pair ofaligned index lugs 28. One endv of ya fastener 30 is xed to Ithe legportion 22 and extends through an aperture 32 in the leg portion 24. Awing nut 34 is threaded on fastener 30 to permit adjustment of the legportion 24 toward or away from leg portion 22.

The arm I4 is curved and its pivoted end is formed with a notch 36adapted to receive the fastener 30 when the 4arms are folded in side byside relation, whereupon tightening of the nut 34 will secure the armsI2 and I4 together and alongside of the base section I0.

Base section IU is provided with a series of longitudinally spacedapertures 38 of various sizes of diameter with indicia 40 adjacent eachaperture to indicate the diameter of the apertures. These apertures willpermit the sizes of drills to be determined. The lower edge of the basesection I0 is also formed with a plurality of longitudinally spacednotches 42 of various Widths and indicia 44 on the base section disposedadjacent the notches indicate the width of the notches, whereby thethickness or gauge of sheet material, such as metal, may be readilydetermined.

Arm I2 supports a level unit 46 at its central portion. The arm I2 isprovided with graduations 46, preferably in inches with fractions of theinches distinguished by small perforations 50 that may accommodate apencil point or scriber.

Arm I4 is provided with longitudinally spaced graduations 52 in degreeswith spaced perforations 54 for fractions of degrees that willaccommodate a scriber. Additional graduations 56 on the arm I4 areprovided for determining roof pitch in conjunction with the arm I2 andbase section I0. Fractions of the graduations v56 are designated byperforations 58 in the arm I4.

A highly important feature is accomplished through the provision ofindicia and graduations 60 along the convex edge of arm I4, since thisset of graduations will permit determination of the mitre line of pipeelbows without complicated mathematical computations. The mitre line onany round elbow from a two-piece elbow to and including a nine-pieceelbow may readily be determined in a convenient manner by using thepointer in conjunction with the base section H) and graduations BIJ.

The pitch of a roof may be quickly and readily determined and patternlayouts made by an indication of such roof pitch by the registering ofpointer 28 with graduations 58 along the concave edge of arm I4, therebyobvating the necessity of employing triangulation work and formathematical tables. I

In practical use;l ofethe: present. invention, the: arm l2 beingvslidably connected to` the arm |41; will form a desired angle With thebase section which angle will be designated between the lugs: 28. A roofpitch may be determined` on laidout in the same manner.

Many other uses of the deviceare,readily'sugle gested by the structureshownand thuathain.- strument is capable of being used* for varioustypes of carpenter or construction Work.

In view of the foregoing description taken in 20 conjunction. with theaccomnanying drawings, itis believed that;.:a,clear,A understanding of.the de:

vice will, be. quite apparent: to` those skilled in thisart. amore,detailed description. is` accord:- ingly; deemed unnecessary.`

hended' by the, spirit' of the. invention.. asherein- 3m described andtliesccpeofthe appended claims.. Havingthus described they invention,what isA claimed as new is:5

2.1 It'. is" to be. und'erst'ocxi;d hovizever,` that; even1 1. A layoutinstrument comprising a base section, a pair of arms pivotally securedto the ends of said base section, one of said arms having graduationsthereon, a slide and index member carried by the other arm and slidablyreceived on the said one arm, and means carried by the slide and indexmember for lockably engaging the said other arm to lock the armstogether, said slide and index member including a substantiallyu-shapedresilient; clililfv Sadilocking means comprising a fastenerjoining the limbs of said clip.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said onegofsaid arms is providedwith a notch adjacent its' pivot receiving the fastener When the arms;are'foldeds one beside the other and alongside of said baselsection.

3; The combination of claim 1 wherein the graduatons on said one of saidarms includes a scale for indicating the mitre line of round elbows froma-two piecaelbow toand including; a nine piece elbown ELLIS THOMPSON;

Rjeferims-V cited' in theme of: this patent*- UNI'I'ED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 329,156 Ford* g ,Oct. 27; 1,885". 479,8,031 Haise A H vAi1g. 2j,1;892 616,179 Bealer etal i Dec.r20'J 18.98"

2,160,949 Willson K K V May 30,519.39

